Bachelor of Arts in Biology
Biology
Biology is the study of living systems and is the broadest biological sciences major available at KU. The B.A. Biology degree provides students with much flexibility in their major course choices and can include ecology, microbiology, organismal physiology, and biochemistry.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
First- and Second-Year Preparation
Because biology study requires preparation in other sciences, students should begin meeting major requirements in the first year. It is particularly important to take CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 in the first year and, for several majors, to take CHEM 330, CHEM 331, CHEM 335, and CHEM 336 in the second year. Ideally, most majors should also take BIOL 150 and BIOL 152 during the first year, as well as BIOL 105.
Requirements for the B.A. Major in Biology
Major Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Science Requirements | ||
| Biology Orientation Seminar. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 105 | Biology Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| Chemistry I. Satisfied by one of the following: | 5 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors | ||
| Chemistry II. Satisfied by one of the following: | 5 | |
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry II, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory, Honors | ||
| Organic Chemistry I. Satisfied by the following: | 3 | |
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Organic Chemistry I, Honors | ||
| Organic Chemistry I Laboratory. Satisfied by: | ||
| CHEM 331 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 2 |
| Biostatistics. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 370 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 4 |
| Calculus. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus I, Honors | ||
| Physics I. Satisfied by one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| College Physics I | ||
| General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | ||
| General Physics I Honors | ||
| Physics II. Satisfied by one of the following: | 4 | |
| College Physics II | ||
| General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | ||
| General Physics II Honors | ||
| Biology Core Requirements | ||
| Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | ||
| Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Honors | ||
| Principles of Organismal Biology. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Organismal Biology | ||
| Principles of Organismal Biology, Honors | ||
| Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors. Satisfied by: | 2 | |
| Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors | ||
| Principles of Genetics. Satisfied by one of the following: | 4 | |
| Principles of Genetics | ||
| Principles of Genetics, Honors | ||
| Evolutionary Biology. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 412 | Evolutionary Biology | 4 |
| Tree of Life / Principles of Ecology / Introduction to Systematics. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| The Tree of Life | ||
| Principles of Ecology | ||
| Introduction to Systematics | ||
| Fundamentals / Development / Function. Satisfied by two of the following: | 6 | |
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | ||
or BIOL 401 | Fundamentals of Microbiology, Honors | |
| Cell Structure and Function | ||
| Biology of Development | ||
| Comparative Animal Physiology | ||
or BIOL 546 | Mammalian Physiology | |
| General Plant Physiology | ||
or BIOL 606 | Ecological Plant Physiology | |
| Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures | ||
| Electives and Laboratory Requirements | ||
| Satisfied by completing 10 hours of BIOL courses numbered 400 or higher which include at least 4 hours of laboratory credit and a BIOL Capstone course. Courses listed above which have not been used to fulfill the above requirements may be used as electives. No more than 3 hours of BIOL 423 Non-Lab Independent Study and/or BIOL 424 Independent Study (combined) can be applied towards the elective requirement with no more than 2 hours of BIOL 424 being applied towards the laboratory requirement. | 10 | |
| Biology Laboratory Electives | ||
Satisfied by completing at least 4 hours of biology lab courses numbered 400 or higher. No more than 2 hours of BIOL 424 may be applied towards the laboratory requirement. | ||
| Biology Electives | ||
Satisfied by completing additional biology courses numbered 400 or higher. | ||
| Biology Capstone Requirement | ||
| Satisfied by completing a BIOL Capstone course. | 3 | |
| Non-laboratory Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Laboratory in Cell Biology | ||
| Biology of Sleep | ||
| Internship and Practical Applications | ||
| Biology of Fungi | ||
| Evolution of Development | ||
| Senior Seminar: _____ | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Behavioral Genetics | ||
| Biology Honors Research Colloquium | ||
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 35 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BA in Biology. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
This degree plan assumes students will have the equivalent of MATH 101 or MATH 104, or equivalent prior to the freshman year, fall semester.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 150 or 152 (Major requirement; Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE))040***, 3 | 3 | BIOL 150 or 152 (Major requirement)3 | 3 |
| CHEM 130 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE))2 | 5 | BIOL 154 (Major Requirement; Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE))040*** | 2 |
| BIOL 105 (General Science Requirement)1 | 1 | CHEM 135 (General Science Requirement) | 5 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | MATH 115 or 125 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030*,2 | 3-4 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| 15 | 16-17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 1st Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 | 2nd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 |
| BIOL 350 or 360 (Major Requirement) | 4 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| CHEM 330 (General Science Requirement)5 | 3 | BIOL 370 (General Science Requirement) | 4 |
| CHEM 331 (General Science Requirement) | 2 | BIOL 412 (Major Requirement)4 | 4 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 3rd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 3 | 4th Semester Language, or 1st semester of Another Language (BA Second Language) | 3 |
| BIOL 413, 414, or 428 (Major Requirement)4,6 | 3-4 | BIOL 400, 416, 417, 544, 546, 555, 606, or 600 (Major Requirement)4,6,10 | 3 |
| PHSX 114 (or PHSX 211 & 216 (General Science Requirement)) | 4 | PHSX 115 (or PHSX 212 & 236 (General Science Requirement)) | 4 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours (300+)9 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours (300+)9 | 3 |
| 16-17 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 400, 416, 417, 544, 546, 555, 606, or 600 (Major Requirement)4,6,10 | 3 | BIOL 423, 424, 426, 446, 490, 533, 545, 599, 652, 655, or 699 (Capstone)7,8 | 1-4 |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | BIOL Elective 400+ (Major Requirement)7 | 2 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | BIOL Lab Elective 400+ (Major Requirement)7 | 2 |
| BIOL Elective 400+ (Major Requirement)7 | 3 | Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| BIOL Lab Elective 400+ (Major Requirement)7 | 2 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours (300+)9 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours9 | 2 | ||
| 14 | 13-16 | ||
| Total Hours 120-125 | |||
- 1
BIOL 105 Biology Orientation Seminar (1 hour online course) is required for the major. It can be taken the summer prior to your freshman year.
- 2
MATH 115 and CHEM 130 require a Math ACT Score of 26+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for MATH 101 or MATH 104 equivalent course. MATH 125 requires a MATH ACT score of 28+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for MATH 104.
- 3
Concurrent or prior enrollment in CHEM 130 is required. BIOL 151 is the honors equivalent of BIOL 150 and offered in the fall semesters. BIOL 153 is the honors equivalent of BIOL 152 and offered in the spring semesters.
- 4
BIOL 412, BIOL 417, BIOL 428, and BIOL 546 are offered only in the spring.
- 5
Most medical schools require CHEM 330, CHEM 331, and CHEM 335. CHEM 335 is recommended in Sophomore Spring, and is offered in the spring and summer semesters.
- 6
BIOL 413, BIOL 414, and BIOL 544 are only offered in the fall.
- 7
10 credit hours of BIOL 400+ level courses, including at least 4 hours of lab credit and a BIOL Capstone course. No more than 3 hours of BIOL 423 and/or BIOL 424 may be applied towards the elective requirement, with no more than 2 hours of BIOL 424 applied towards the laboratory requirement.
- 8
If used to fulfill the capstone requirement BIOL 423, BIOL 424 and BIOL BIOL 490 must be taken for 3 credit hours.
- 9
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through Core 34, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
- 10
Two courses from this list fulfill the Fundamentals/Development/Function category.
Please note:
Students may earn degrees in more than one major within biological sciences, or in a biological science and an area outside biology by meeting the requirements of both degree programs and taking at least 15 hours of courses unique to each major.
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
*Courses with a * designate courses that are degree requirements but can also be taken to fulfill the KU Core 34 requirement. If another course if used to fulfill the Core 34 requirement, the course listed is still required as a degree requirement.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
Departmental Honors
Undergraduate majors are eligible to graduate with honors in biology if they fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete all course work required for the appropriate degree in biology.
- Achieve a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in the major.
- Complete BIOL 499 Introduction to Honors Research with a grade of B or higher.
- Complete BIOL 699 Biology Honors Research Colloquium with a grade of B or higher.
- Complete an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member in an area appropriate to the degree sought.
- Submit an honors thesis to the honors committee once the research is complete and present the results of the completed research at the honors research symposium.
Students majoring in Human Biology with Anthropology, Applied Behavioral Science, Psychology, or Speech-Language-Hearing concentrations will follow the honors requirements for their respective concentration department.
Specific guidelines and intent forms are available in the Undergraduate Biology Program office and online. Candidates must declare their intent to graduate with honors at least 2 semesters before graduation.
Study Abroad
Consult an advisor at least 4 months before undertaking study abroad. Consult the Office of Study Abroad, 108 Lippincott Hall, for information about study in one of the many countries (e.g., Scotland, Australia, Switzerland) with special arrangements with KU.